Automatic telephone switch



o. EfRASMUSSEN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH Filed March 15, 1922 a m. W A

I I l l I II I Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEW YORK.

JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application filed March 15, 1922.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, OSVALD E. RASMUSSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln Park, in the county of Morris, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Telephone Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic switching apparatus and more particularly to coordinate switches of the type for establishing connections in an automatic telephone exchange system.

The present invention is ment on the switch structure described in the British Patent 183,436, issued to Western Electric Company, Limited, accepted August 23, 1923, which is directed to a switch structure having operating cards for moving sets of active contacts into engagement with sets of passive contacts, the operating cards being supported on flexible springs and arranged to be moved through the conjoint operation of actuating bars.

In the above noted switch structure the flexible supporting springs being rigidly attached to both the operating cards and to supports attached to the framework of the switch structure, provide a semi-rigid support for the cards, it being necessary in lifting or moving a car to flex the springs not only against their own inherent resistance to flexure but also against the tendency of the card and support to hold them in their normal unflexed position. In other Words, to lift a card it is necessary to warp the entire card support comprising the supporting springs and their rigid connection at their free ends through the card which they support. A greater amount of energy is an improve- .therefore required to operate a card than would be required if the card were more freely supported.

The principal object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a switch structure of the character above described wherein the contacts are brought into engagement in a positive manner with the expenditure of a small amount of energy.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means for guid- Serial No. 543,863.

ing the contact operating cards in such a manner that they may be easily actuated.

A still further object is to provide means whereby a connection once made may be maintained undisturbed while subsequent connections are being effected.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the combination of normally disengaged contacts, operating cards for effecting the engagement of the contacts, and conjointly operating coordinate bars for operating said cards, with members for guiding the cards whereby said cards are freely movable under the control of the coordinate bars. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the attached drawings.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of a coordinate switch with the features of this invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 is a side View of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a detail of a portion of the mechanism associated with one of the horizontal operating bars of the switch in its various stages of operation.

In order not to complicate the drawing, only one set of parts dislosed in Fig. l is identified by reference numerals, it being understood that where an element or a part of the figure is not identified, its structure and functions are the same as similar elements identified elsewhere on the figure.

The sets of grid or passive conductors 1, 2, 5 and 6 are securely fastened at their ends to fixed members (not shown) forming a portion of the supporting frame 41 of the switch and are preferably woven in and out between insulating strips (not shown) in the manner disclosed in. the aforementioned application.

A support 11 (Fig. 2) of insulating ma terial also suitably secured to the frame of the switch, is provided for each row of sets of flexible wire contact springs or active conductors 7, 8, 9 and 10. These supports are disposed at right angles to the direction of the length of the grid conductors. The

7 support 11 may be of considerable length and may carry any number of sets of contact springs depending upon the switch capacity desired. The free ends of each set of contact springs 7, 8, 9 and 10 extend through oblique apertures 12 in a tie member or operating card 13, each of said cardsbeing removably engaged in a channel-shaped guide 10 consisting essentially of the walls or flanges 14 and"15.' These guide channels 10 are secured in any suitable manner on the frame 41. The card 13 is. provided with a projection 16 which extends into the slot 17 in the wall 14: of the guide 10, and with a pin 37=extending through a slot in the wall 15 of the guide 40, thereby permitting the card to movefreely and at the same time be held in position in the guide. The card 13 is normally arranged in the guide to hold the contact springs out of contact withthe grid conductors.

18-and 19 are two coordinately disposed bars, the bar 19 being free to move vertically a limiteddistance under the influence of armature 20 of, electro-magnet 21, its movementbeinglimited by the bolts 22 which extend through the apertures 23 in the bar 19 andinto supporting lugs 12 integral with the guide 4C0. Bar 18 is free to move laterally under the influence of armature 24c of magnet 25 and is provided with a series of sets of collars 26 and 27, a set of collars adjacent each vertical bar 19. The collar 26 is provided with a pin or projection 28 and is so constructed as to be free torotate on bar 18 but is restrained from any lateral movement thereon as shown in Fig. 1. The collar 27 is permanently fixed to the bar 18 by the screw 29. Interposed between collars 26 and 27 and permanently attached to both is a spring30, the function of which is to restore collar 26 to its normal position on bar 18 after it has been rotated.

An L-shaped lever 31 is fulcrumed at the point 32 on the lug 13 integral with the guide'tOflhe downwardly extending portion of lever 31 being adapted to be engaged by pin 28. Upon the lateral movement of bar 18, the lever. causing its laterally extending portion to travel upwardly. This upward movement is transmitted to the card 13 since the lever 31 is in constant engagement with the card 13 at thepoint 33.

Restoring springs 34 and 35 are provided forrestoring bars 19and 18 to normal position upon the deenergization of the magnets 21 and 25, respectively. 36 is a restoringspring attached to the pin 37 and to the lug 43 for returning card 13 to normal upon the deenergization of'magnet 25 and the consequent restoration of lever 31.

The bar 19 is provided with a series of lateral arms or projections 38 adapted to engage the pins 28uponrthe actuation of out of-the path of 31 rotatesabout its fulcrunr said bar for rotating them with respect to the bars 18. The pins 28 are guided during their lateral movement by guides 39 formed integrally with the channel guide 40. Referring to Fig. .1, the lower left portion of which shows the device in its normal condition with the pin 28 and lateral projection 38 disengaged as at A, the operation of the switch is as follows: Upon the -ener D example, may be brought about in response an incoming call, armature 20 is ization of electromagnet 2l'which, for' attracted and moves selecting bar 19 upwardly causing collar 26 to rotate on bar 18 due to the engagement of projections 38 with pins 28 moving the pins 28 into the position shown at B. Magnet 25 is now energized attracting armature'24e and driving the bar 18 in a horizontal direction. This, action transfers the pin 28 from the lateral projection 38 to the guide 39 and the pin 28 is held thereon due to the tension of spring 30. In this movement, the pin 28 has engaged the lever 31, as shown at C. The lever 31 being fulc'rumed at 32 rotates about this point causing the card 13 engaged thereby to be moved upwardly along the guiding walls 1 1 and 15 of guide 4:0. 'The contact springs 7, 8, 9 and 10 are thereby brought into electrical contact with the grid conductors 1, 2, 5 and 6, respectively. This connection is notrreleased upon the deenergiza'tion of magnet 21 as long as magnet 25 remains energized. carried by the operated bar 18 are at this time ineffective to operate associated levers 31, since they have not been displaced by projections on otherbars 19 and therefore move beneath the guides 39. The released bar 19 may be subsequently operated to effeet the establishment of other connections at contact sets served thereby in cooperation with another bar 18, inasmuch as the pin 28 employed in an established connection is the corresponding pro- 19 and therefore the not disturbed.

jeotion 38 on bar existing connection is Upon the deenergization of magnet 21,.

the restoring spring 3%1 returns bar 19 to its normal position. Vt hen the connection previously 'efiected is no longer desired, the magnet 25,is deenergized and the spring 35 operates to restore position and spring 36 at the same time returns card 13 to its normal position. The returnof bar 18 to. normal causes pin 28 to slide 03' the guide 39 thereby releasing the tension in spring 30 causing the collar. 26 attached thereto to return to its normal position.

Should a horizontal bar 18 be released while a bar 19 such as the liar at theleft The remaining pins28 100 bar 18 to its normal of Fig. 1, is in its operated position, the V idle pins 28 on the bar 18 will pass beneath the corresponding projections 38 on the bar 19 and will, upon the subsequent release of bar 19, be depressed against the tension of spring 30 into the lowermost dotted position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the depressed pins will be released from the projections 38 and move to their normal positions as indicated by the intermediate dotted line position shown in Fig. 5. Thus, the apparatus is in no manner rendered inefiective due to the particular order in which the several parts are released.

IVhat is claimed is:

1. In a switching mechanism, :a set of contacts, an operating member therefor, a channel-shaped guide for said operating member, and means comprising conjointly operating bars for moving said operating member in said guide.

2. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, an operating card therefor, a channel-shaped guide for said operating card, and means comprising conjointly operating bars for moving said operating card in said guide.

3. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of contacts, operating cards therefor, a channel-shaped guide in which said cards are disposed, and means for independently moving said cards in said guide.

4. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of contacts, operating cards therefor, a channel-shaped guide in which a plurality of said cards are disposed, and means comprising conjointly operating bars for independently moving said cards in said guide.

In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of contacts, operating cards there for, a channel-shaped guide in which said cards are disposed for movement, and means comprising conjointly operating bars for independently moving said cards in said guide.

6. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, an operating member therefor, av channel-shaped guide arranged for a plurality of said ope-rating members, means for moving said operating members in said guide, and restoring means for said memhers.

y 7. In a switching mechanism, a set of contacts, an operating member therefor, a channel-shaped guide arranged for a plurality of said operating members havingslots in its flanges, means carried by said members and engaging in said slots for retaining said members within saidguide, and means for moving said members in said guide.

8. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of conductors, a plurality of sets of contacts cooperating therewith arranged in rows, an operating card for each of said sets of contacts, channel-shaped guides in which the cards of each of said rows are disposed, an operating bar for each of said sets of conductors, an operating bar for each of said rows of contacts, and means for op erating said bars c-onjointly to move said cards in said guides.

9. In a switching mechanism, sets of ac t-ive and passive contacts coordinately disposed, an operating card for each set of active contacts having a series of apertures, said active contacts extending through said apertures, a guide for said operating cards, a selecting bar having a plurality of lateral arms, an actuating bar disposed at right angles to said selecting bar, a series of pins on said actuating bar, and means for moving one of said operating cards in said guide upon the conjoint operation of said bars through the engagement between an arm of said selecting bar and a pin on said actuating bar thereby effecting engagement between said sets of active and passive contacts.

10. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of conductors arranged in parallel rows, a plurality of sets of movable contact members arranged in rows coordinate to said rows of conductors, a frame, a. bar having a plurality of lateral arms, said bar slidably attached to said frame, a second bar arranged coordinately to said first bar, aseries of pins on said second bar, means for operating said first bar to effect the engagement of an arm thereon with a pin on said second bar, and means comprising a pivoted lever responsive to the subsequent opera tion of said second bar to effect engagement between a set of said conductors and a set of said movable contact members.

11. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of conductors arranged in parallel rows, a plurality of sets of movable contact members arranged in rows coordinate to said rows of conductors, an operating card for each set of contact members hav ing apertures for maintaining said movable contact members in spaced relation from said conductors, a guide for said cards, an actuating bar, means for moving said bar. means for transmitting the movement of said bar to said operating card, and means for restraining the movement of said operating card in said guide.

12. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of stationary conductors, a. plurality of rows of movable contact members dis posed coordinately to said stationary conductors, each of said rows of movable contact members divided into a plurality of sets and each set of each row associated with a different set of stationary conductors, an operating card having a series of apertures admitting a set of said movable contact aembers, a guide for said operating card, selecting bars coordinately disposed, and means for operating said selecting bars for causing movement of said lSO til

operating card in said guide to effect engagement between one of said setsof stationary conductors and one of said sets of movable contact members.

13. In a switching mechanism, a fixed contact bank comprising a plurality of sets oi parallel conductors, a plurality of sets of movable conductors arranged in rows at right angles to said bank conductors and extending through said bank, each movable conductor crossing one of said bank conductors but normally out of contact therewith, a movable support for each set of movable conductors, guides for the movable supports, a plurality of selecting bars each having lateral arms disposed at regular intervals thereon equal in number to the sets of movable conductors in a row, a series of actuating bars coordinately disposed to said selecting bars and having a plurality of pins thereon equal in number to the rows of movable conductors, means for operating said selecting bars individually, means for operating said actuating bars individually and means for operating one of said movable supports responsive to the conjoint operation of one of said selecting bars and one of said actuating bars through the engagement between a. lateral arm of one of said selecting bars and a pin on one of said actuating bars thereby establishing a connection between a setof movable conductors and a set of bank conductors at their crossing point.

14. In a switching mechanism, a plurality of sets of contact springs arranged in a row, a set of stationary conductors for each of said sets of contact springs, a movable support for each set of contact springs, a guide for said movable supports, and means for actuating one of said movable supports in said guide comprising a vertically movable bar having a lateral arm extending therefrom, a laterally movable horizontal bar having a pinthereon for engagement with the lateral arm on said first bar, and an' L- shaped lever fulcrumed at its midpoint, one end thereof engaging said movable support and the other end adapted to be engaged. by said pin on said horizontal bar upon the vertical movement of said first bar and the subsequent movement of said second bar to impart vertical movement to said movable support.

15. A switch structure comprising a plurality of sets of contact springs arranged in rows, a plurality of rows of sets of fixed conductors disposed coordinately to said first mentioned rows, each of said sets of contact springs of a row associated with one of said sets of fixed conductors, a movable tie member for each of said sets of contact springs, guides for said tie members, coordinately disposed sets of operating bars, the bars of one set being individual respectively to the rows of contact sets and provided with lateral arms projecting therefrom and the bars of the other set being individual respectively to the rows ofsetsvof conductors and provided with collars, said collars having pins extending therefrom and being free to rotate on said bars upon engagement between the lateral arms of said first set of bars and the pins on said collars, means for limiting the rotation of said collars and returning them to normal upon disengagement of the pins on said collars from the lateral arms on the first set of said bars, electromagnetic means for conjointly operating both of said sets of bars for causing said'tie members to move-in said guides to effect engagement between the sets of fixed conductors and the sets of contact springs operated by said tie members, and means individual to the bars of each set for restoring said bars to normal upon deenergization of said electromagnetic means. 7

16. A switch structure comprising a set of contact springs, a setof'fixed conductors disposed coordinately to said first mentioned set and associated therewith, an operating card for said set of contact springs, a guide for said operating card, coordinately disposed operating bars, one of said bars provided with a lateral arm thereon, the other of said bars provided with a collar having a pin extending therefrom, said collar being free to rotate on said bar upon engagement of said lateral arm with said pin, individual electromagnetic means for operating said bars, and

means effective upon the conjointroperation of said electromagnet c means to cause said operating card to move in said guide and effect electrical connection between said set of contact springs and said fixed conductors, said connection being maintained by the continued energization of one only of said electromagnetic means.

17. In a switching mechanism, normally disengaged contacts, a pair 01 coordinately disposed bars, a resiliently mounted pincarried by one of said bars, an arm carried by the other of said bars, means for operating the first mentioned bar tov move said pin, and means for operating the second mentioned bar to move said arm, a movement of said arm followed by a movement of said pin being effective to interengage said contacts, said engagement being unafiected during its continuation by subsequent operations of said second mentioned bar.

18. In a switching mechanism, normally disengaged contacts, a pair of coordinately disposed bars, a rotatable collar upon one of said bars having a projecting pin, an arm carried by the other of said bars, means for operating said first mentioned bar to move said pin, and means for operating the second mentioned bar to move said arm, a movement of said pin prior to the movement of said arm being ineffective to interengage said contacts, and a movement of said arm followed by a movement of said pin being effective to engage said contacts,

said engagement being unaffected by subsequent operations of said second mentioned bar.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of March A. D.,

OSVALD E. RASMUSSEN. 

